Fasching, Peter A.

Abstract Antimullerian hormone (AMH) is a promising biomarker for ovarian reserve. In this study, we assessed AMH before and 1 year after initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy on National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)/NRG Oncology B-47 in female participants aged 42 years and younger (median age = 39 years). At baseline, median AMH was 1.2 ng/mL; 13 (4.7%) values were less than 0.1 ng/mL (the threshold for detectable levels, in the perimenopause and menopause range), and 57 values (20.6%) were less than 0.5 ng/mL. At 1 year, 215 (77.6%) were less than 0.1 ng/mL, and 264 (95.3%) were less than 0.5 ng/mL. Postchemotherapy menses were reported by 46.2% of participants. Multivariable logistic regression found that the odds of having postchemotherapy menses increased with younger age, higher body mass index, and higher prechemotherapy AMH, but not by trastuzumab administration or by the choice of chemotherapy (doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel vs docetaxel-cyclophosphamide). We conclude that higher prechemotherapy AMH predicts a lower risk of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea and that AMH 1 year after chemotherapy initiation is not informative in this setting because it is likely to be very low.

Abstract Blood lipids have been associated with the development of a range of cancers, including breast, lung and colorectal cancer. For endometrial cancer, observational studies have reported inconsistent associations between blood lipids and cancer risk. To reduce biases from unmeasured confounding, we performed a bidirectional, two‐sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the relationship between levels of three blood lipids (low‐density lipoprotein [LDL] and high‐density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and triglycerides) and endometrial cancer risk. Genetic variants associated with each of these blood lipid levels ( P < 5 × 10 −8 ) were identified as instrumental variables, and assessed using genome‐wide association study data from the Endometrial Cancer Association Consortium (12 906 cases and 108 979 controls) and the Global Lipids Genetic Consortium (n = 188 578). Mendelian randomization analyses found genetically raised LDL cholesterol levels to be associated with lower risks of endometrial cancer of all histologies combined, and of endometrioid and non‐endometrioid subtypes. Conversely, higher genetically predicted HDL cholesterol levels were associated with increased risk of non‐endometrioid endometrial cancer. After accounting for the potential confounding role of obesity (as measured by genetic variants associated with body mass index), the association between genetically predicted increased LDL cholesterol levels and lower endometrial cancer risk remained significant, especially for non‐endometrioid endometrial cancer. There was no evidence to support a role for triglycerides in endometrial cancer development. Our study supports a role for LDL and HDL cholesterol in the development of non‐endometrioid endometrial cancer. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms underlying these findings.

Abstract Purpose: Gene expression–based molecular subtypes of high-grade serous tubo-ovarian cancer (HGSOC), demonstrated across multiple studies, may provide improved stratification for molecularly targeted trials. However, evaluation of clinical utility has been hindered by nonstandardized methods, which are not applicable in a clinical setting. We sought to generate a clinical grade minimal gene set assay for classification of individual tumor specimens into HGSOC subtypes and confirm previously reported subtype-associated features. Experimental Design: Adopting two independent approaches, we derived and internally validated algorithms for subtype prediction using published gene expression data from 1,650 tumors. We applied resulting models to NanoString data on 3,829 HGSOCs from the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium. We further developed, confirmed, and validated a reduced, minimal gene set predictor, with methods suitable for a single-patient setting. Results: Gene expression data were used to derive the predictor of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma molecular subtype (PrOTYPE) assay. We established a de facto standard as a consensus of two parallel approaches. PrOTYPE subtypes are significantly associated with age, stage, residual disease, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and outcome. The locked-down clinical grade PrOTYPE test includes a model with 55 genes that predicted gene expression subtype with &gt;95% accuracy that was maintained in all analytic and biological validations. Conclusions: We validated the PrOTYPE assay following the Institute of Medicine guidelines for the development of omics-based tests. This fully defined and locked-down clinical grade assay will enable trial design with molecular subtype stratification and allow for objective assessment of the predictive value of HGSOC molecular subtypes in precision medicine applications. See related commentary by McMullen et al., p. 5271

1087 Background: OlympiAD (NCT02000622) demonstrated the benefit of olaparib over standard of care in patients (pts) with HER2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and germline BRCA mutations (gBRCAm). LUCY (NCT03286842) aimed to provide additional data on the real-world effectiveness and safety of olaparib monotherapy in this setting. Methods: This Phase IIIb, open-label, single-arm study of olaparib 300 mg twice-daily, enrolled pts with HER2- gBRCAm MBC who had received a taxane and/or anthracycline in the (neo)adjuvant/metastatic setting, and ≤2 lines of chemotherapy for MBC. Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) pts had progressed on prior endocrine therapy (ET), and further ET was considered unsuitable. Primary endpoint: investigator-defined progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints: overall survival, time to first subsequent therapy or death (TFST), and investigator-assessed clinical response rate (CRR). The interim analysis was planned after 160 PFS events. Results: From Oct 2018-Sept 2019, 252 pts were enrolled (160 sites, 15 countries; mean age 46.2 [range 22-75] years; 73.4% ECOG PS 0). Median total treatment duration: 7.9 months (mo; range 0.2-20.0). Median PFS: 8.1 mo (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9, 8.7; 166 events [65.9%]). Clinical trial information: NCT03286842 . Median TFST: 9.7 mo (95% CI 8.7, 11.1). CRR: 48.6% (95% CI 42.2, 55.0). Adverse events (AEs) in >20% of pts (all grades): nausea, anemia, asthenia, vomiting, and fatigue. 24.6% of pts reported a grade ≥3 AE, including anemia (n=33 [13.1%]). 4.4% of pts had an AE leading to treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: Interim results in this real-world population of pts with HER2- gBRCAm MBC were consistent with the OlympiAD study, and support olaparib as a chemotherapy-free alternative treatment for pts with gBRCAm advanced BC. [Table: see text]

Abstract We evaluated the joint associations between a new 313-variant PRS (PRS313) and questionnaire-based breast cancer risk factors for women of European ancestry, using 72 284 cases and 80 354 controls from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. Interactions were evaluated using standard logistic regression and a newly developed case-only method for breast cancer risk overall and by estrogen receptor status. After accounting for multiple testing, we did not find evidence that per-standard deviation PRS313 odds ratio differed across strata defined by individual risk factors. Goodness-of-fit tests did not reject the assumption of a multiplicative model between PRS313 and each risk factor. Variation in projected absolute lifetime risk of breast cancer associated with classical risk factors was greater for women with higher genetic risk (PRS313 and family history) and, on average, 17.5% higher in the highest vs lowest deciles of genetic risk. These findings have implications for risk prevention for women at increased risk of breast cancer.

Abstract Background: BRCA1/2 genes play a central role in DNA repair. Therefore, pts harboring gBRCA1/2m treated with chemotherapy might be at higher risk of acute hematological toxicities due to the lower level of functional BRCA1/2 protein potentially resulting in more toxicity. Published results are discordant, further data are needed. Methods: Pts with early TNBC and known gBRCA1/2m treated with anthracycline-taxane based NACT in the GeparQuinto (n=487), GeparSixto (n=291) and GeparOcto (n=393) studies were included. Primary G-CSF prophylaxis was foreseen only for the iddETC arm in GeparOcto. Primary objective was the rate of neutropenia grade (G)3-4 after cycle 1; secondary objectives were the rate of other hematological toxicities G3-4 and the overall toxicity rate after cycle 1 as well as hematological toxicities in gBRCA1/2 pts during the taxane part of chemotherapy. Results: 209/1171 evaluated pts (17.8%) had a gBRCA1/2m (177 gBRCA1m, 33 gBRCA2m). Median age was 48yrs [21-78]. The rate of neutropenia G3-4 after cycle 1 in gBRCA1/2 wildtype (wt) pts was 35.7% vs 37.4% in gBRCA1/2m (p=0.683), 35.9% in gBRCA1m (p=1.000), 44.8% in gBRCA2m (p=0.330). gBRCA1/2 mutational status did not predict neutropenia G3-4 at univariate (OR=1.08, 95%CI 0.78-1.48 p=0.658) or multivariate analysis adjusted for age, BMI and treatment (OR=1.26, 95%CI 0.87-1.82 p=0.226). The overall rate and the rates of other hematological toxicities are shown in the table. gBRCA1/2 mutational status did also not predict for any other hematological toxicities G3-4 (univariate OR=0.94, 95%CI 0.64-1.40 p=0.773; multivariate OR=0.94, 95%CI 0.62-1.43 p=0.779). gBRCA1/2 mutational status predicted for hematological toxicities G3-4 under taxane treatment (univariate OR=1.94, 95%CI 1.35-2.77 p&lt;0.001; multivariate OR=2.91, 95%CI 1.55-5.45 p=0.001). During taxane treatment, the overall rate of hematological toxicities G3-4 in wt pts was 43.1% (n=270) vs 59.5% (n=91) in gBRCA1/2m, p&lt;0.001; anemia G3-4 2.6% (n=16) vs 3.3% (n=5), p=0.584; leucopenia G3-4 32.7% (n=203) vs 47.1% (n=72), p=0.001; neutropenia G3-4 35.8% (n=219) vs 49.3% (n=73), p=0.003; thrombopenia G3-4 1.4% (n=9) vs 4.6% (n=7), p=0.024; febrile neutropenia 5.9% (n=37) vs 4.6% (n=7), p=0.696. Conclusions: Overall, gBRCA1/2 mutation is not associated with a significantly higher risk of severe hematological toxicities. Under taxane therapy, pts with gBRCA1/2 demonstrate a higher rate of hematological toxicities G3-4, especially neutropenia, compared to wildtype pts, and should therefore be carefully monitored. Hematological toxicities after cycle 1wildtypegBRCA1/2mp-valuegBRCA1mp-valuegBRCA2mp-valueN%N%N%N%neutropenia G3-432635.77437.40.6836135.91.0001344.80.330febrile neutropenia171.831.41.00010.60.33726.10.130leucopenia G3-424425.83818.20.0212815.80.0041030.30.548anemia G3-420.200.01.00000.01.00000.01.000thrombopenia G3-4111.210.50.70510.60.70400.01.000any hematological toxicities G1-477782.617081.70.76314180.10.4533090.90.344any hematological toxicities G3-442846.38843.60.5337241.90.3171651.60.587 Citation Format: Jenny Furlanetto, Volker Möbus, Andreas Schneeweiss, Kerstin Rhiem, Hans Tesch, Jens-Uwe Blohmer, Kristina Lübbe, Michael Untch, Christoph Salat, Jens Huober, Peter Klare, Rita Schmutzler, Fergus J Couch, Bianca Lederer, Bernd Gerber, Dirk-Michael Zahm, Ingo Bauerfeind, Valentina Nekljudova, Claus Hanusch, Christian Jackisch, Theresa Link, Sibylle Loibl, Peter A Fasching. Germline (g)BRCA1/2 mutations (m) and hematological toxicities in patients (pts) with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-10-03.

AbstractPrevious transcriptome‐wide association studies (TWAS) have identified breast cancer risk genes by integrating data from expression quantitative loci and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), but analyses of breast cancer subtype‐specific associations have been limited. In this study, we conducted a TWAS using gene expression data from GTEx and summary statistics from the hitherto largest GWAS meta‐analysis conducted for breast cancer overall, and by estrogen receptor subtypes (ER+ and ER−). We further compared associations with ER+ and ER− subtypes, using a case‐only TWAS approach. We also conducted multigene conditional analyses in regions with multiple TWAS associations. Two genes, STXBP4 and HIST2H2BA, were specifically associated with ER+ but not with ER– breast cancer. We further identified 30 TWAS‐significant genes associated with overall breast cancer risk, including four that were not identified in previous studies. Conditional analyses identified single independent breast‐cancer gene in three of six regions harboring multiple TWAS‐significant genes. Our study provides new information on breast cancer genetics and biology, particularly about genomic differences between ER+ and ER− breast cancer.

Abstract Purpose: To determine if the degree of estrogen suppression with aromatase inhibitors (AI: anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole) is associated with efficacy in early-stage breast cancer, and to examine for differences in the mechanism of action between the three AIs. Experimental Design: Matched case–control studies [247 matched sets from MA.27 (anastrozole vs. exemestane) and PreFace (letrozole) trials] were undertaken to assess whether estrone (E1) or estradiol (E2) concentrations after 6 months of adjuvant therapy were associated with risk of an early breast cancer event (EBCE). Preclinical laboratory studies included luciferase activity, cell proliferation, radio-labeled ligand estrogen receptor binding, surface plasmon resonance ligand receptor binding, and nuclear magnetic resonance assays. Results: Women with E1 ≥1.3 pg/mL and E2 ≥0.5 pg/mL after 6 months of AI treatment had a 2.2-fold increase in risk (P = 0.0005) of an EBCE, and in the anastrozole subgroup, the increase in risk of an EBCE was 3.0-fold (P = 0.001). Preclinical laboratory studies examined mechanisms of action in addition to aromatase inhibition and showed that only anastrozole could directly bind to estrogen receptor α (ERα), activate estrogen response element-dependent transcription, and stimulate growth of an aromatase-deficient CYP19A1−/− T47D breast cancer cell line. Conclusions: This matched case–control clinical study revealed that levels of estrone and estradiol above identified thresholds after 6 months of adjuvant anastrozole treatment were associated with increased risk of an EBCE. Preclinical laboratory studies revealed that anastrozole, but not exemestane or letrozole, is a ligand for ERα. These findings represent potential steps towards individualized anastrozole therapy.

1048 Background: Germline BRCA1/2 ( gBRCA) mutations (mt) are some of the few actionable alterations in mBC patients. The PARP inhibitors olaparib/talazoparib are more effective than chemotherapy (ctx) in patients with a gBRCAmt and HER2 negative(-) mBC. In mBC patients the TNT-study suggested a better progression-free survival (PFS) for g BRCA-mt compared to patients with a gBRCA1/2 wildtype (wt) when treated with platinum and not with a taxane. Otherwise little is known about the prognostic effect of g BRCA1/2mt in mBC patients. Methods: PRAEGNANT (NCT02338167) is a prospective mBC registry with a focus on molecular biomarkers. Patients were eligible for this analysis if their mBC was HER2- and treated with ctx for the first time (referred to as first-line ctx). Hormone receptor (HR) positive patients had to have all hormone therapies exhausted. Mutation frequencies and their association with patient and tumor characteristics were analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression models were built with commonly established prognostic factors and g BRCA mutation status as predictors of PFS and overall survival (OS) from first-line ctx. Results: Out of 2932 PRAEGNANT patients, 576 were HER2- and received first-line ctx. Of those 529 patients with g BRCA genotype results and follow up information could be analyzed. 24 patients (4.5%) had a g BRCAmt (11 BRCA1, 13 BRCA2). Mutation rate in HR positive patients was 3.9% (17/432) and 7.2% (7/97) in HR negative patients. Most patients received ctx either as the first treatment in the metastatic setting or after one line of hormone therapy (n=382; 72.2%). Multivariable Cox regression models showed an adjusted hazard ratio for gBRCAmt vs. gBRCAwt patients of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.43-1.15) for PFS and of 0.41 (95% CI: 0.18-0.93) for OS. Most frequent ctx treatments were taxane (52%) or capecitabine based (21%). Additionally, the prevalence of somatic BRCA1/2 mutations in this population will be presented. Conclusions: In this HER2- mBC population under ctx g BRCA mutation rates were within the expected range of about 5%. Within the analyzed population patients with a g BRCA mutation seemed to have a better OS than patients without a mutation. PFS results pointed in the same direction without statistical significance. However, with only 24 mutations replication of these results in additional cohorts is warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT02338167.

Abstract DNA methylation is instrumental for gene regulation. Global changes in the epigenetic landscape have been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. However, the role of DNA methylation in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear. In this study, high-density genetic and DNA methylation data in white blood cells from the Framingham Heart Study (N = 1,595) were used to build genetic models to predict DNA methylation levels. These prediction models were then applied to the summary statistics of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of ovarian cancer including 22,406 EOC cases and 40,941 controls to investigate genetically predicted DNA methylation levels in association with EOC risk. Among 62,938 CpG sites investigated, genetically predicted methylation levels at 89 CpG were significantly associated with EOC risk at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P &lt; 7.94 × 10−7. Of them, 87 were located at GWAS-identified EOC susceptibility regions and two resided in a genomic region not previously reported to be associated with EOC risk. Integrative analyses of genetic, methylation, and gene expression data identified consistent directions of associations across 12 CpG, five genes, and EOC risk, suggesting that methylation at these 12 CpG may influence EOC risk by regulating expression of these five genes, namely MAPT, HOXB3, ABHD8, ARHGAP27, and SKAP1. We identified novel DNA methylation markers associated with EOC risk and propose that methylation at multiple CpG may affect EOC risk via regulation of gene expression. Significance: Identification of novel DNA methylation markers associated with EOC risk suggests that methylation at multiple CpG may affect EOC risk through regulation of gene expression.